Brussels - Isi wins 1/3 of $1 million jackpot

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http://www.iaaf.org/GLE09/news/newsid=54192.html

Two legends in Brussels; three contenders for the Million - PREVIEW - ÅF Golden League

Brussels, Belgium – Two racing legends, Usain Bolt and Kenenisa Bekele, the second of whom along with Sanya Richards and Yelena Isinbayeva will try to negotiate the final hurdle to at least share the US$1 Million Jackpot provide the focus of tomorrow night’s star-studded Belgacom Memorial Van Damme - ÅF Golden League meeting in the Belgian capital (Fri 4).

Three contenders for last Jackpot

On present form the Jackpot contenders, Bekele (5000m), Richards (400m), and Isinbayeva (Pole Vault), who set world season leads, the latter a World record, last week in Zürich seem to be unbeatable. But then roll back your memory and think of the previously peerless Isinbayeva kneeling head in hands on the landing mat in Berlin, no height registered on the scoreboard. That’s the beauty of sport, nothing is ever certain.

Will a similar result happen in Brussels? Very unlikely! By the manner in which the 2008 World Athlete of the Year last week scaled three heights on her first attempts culminating with 5.06m, World champion Anna Rogowska might need to lower her ambitions to the runners-up spot as the highest possible attainable achievement in the King Baudouin Stadium.

Bekele is opposed by 14 Kenyans in a 5000m field of 22 runners, Eliud Kipchoge, fifth in Berlin but also the 2003 World champion and Beijing Olympic silver medallist, will be his chief opponent.

In the women’s 400m, Richards faces World silver and Olympic bronze medallist Shericka Williams of Jamaica, as well as Britain’s Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu.

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Live video feed begins on UniversalSports.com at 1:50pm Eastern.

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Start list:

PV WOMEN BATTKE Anna GER
PV WOMEN DENNISON Kate GBR
PV WOMEN GADSCHIEW Kristina GER
PV WOMEN ISINBAYEVA Yelena RUS
PV WOMEN JOHNSON Chelsea USA
PV WOMEN KIRYASHOVA Aleksandra RUS
PV WOMEN MURER Fabiana BRA
PV WOMEN PYREK Monika POL
PV WOMEN ROGOWSKA Anna POL
PV WOMEN SPIEGELBURG Silke GER


Meet website: http://www.belgacommemorialvandamme.be/

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Order Athlete Nation PB SB
1 GADSCHIEW, Kristina GER 4.58 4.58
2 DENNISON, Kate GBR 4.58 4.58
3 JOHNSON, Chelsea USA 4.73 4.65
4 KIRYASHOVA, Aleksandra RUS 4.65 4.65
5 BATTKE, Anna GER 4.68 4.68
6 SPIEGELBURG, Silke GER 4.70 4.70
7 MURER, Fabiana BRA 4.82 4.82
8 PYREK, Monika POL 4.82 4.78
9 ROGOWSKA, Anna POL 4.83 4.80
10 ISINBAYEVA, Yelena RUS 5.06 5.06

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Looks like the competition is about to get underway.

Height progression: 4.40 4.50 4.60 4.65 4.70 4.75 4.80 4.85 4.90

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Everyone over 4.40, most on their first try except Dennison needed two and Bettke needed three attempts. Isi passing to 4.70.

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Pyrek and Rogowska pass 4.50. Murer and Spiegelburg make on their first, everyone else misses their first attempt.

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Everyone else missed their second attempts at 4.50.

So far Dennison has cleared on her third and Gadschiew out.

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The announcers are estimating that it is about 18° Celsius or ~64°F. A bit chilly!

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Johnson and Kiryashova out at 4.50. One more vaulter remains.

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Battke out, bar goes up to 4.60. Spigeleburg and Dennison miss their first attempts.

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Sanya Richards just dominated the 400, so she will have a share of the $1 million jackpot. She also set a meet record.

Bekele left to race, he is the other contender remaining.